Game table top having two playing surfaces



Aug. 26, 1952 R. 1.. SLATTERY 2,608,454

GAME TABLE TOP HAVING TWO PLAYING SURFACES Filed Nov. 9, 1949 13 INVENTOR.

ROGER L. SEATTERY HIS ATTOPNF Y The This invention relates to the construction of table tops, suitable for the playing of various gamesthereupon. p

A group of people playing cards or similar games commonly indulge in smoking and drinking bevei'ages'served in glasses." 'This requires that ash trays and coasters for the glasses be pro- VidediWithin easy reach of the players. Often the a; traysuand glasses are placed directly: on the pla'iying table which frequently results in objec- *tionable soiling of the playing surface by spilling crashes and moisteningofthe surface by conden- Isation from theglassesl -Chips and coins used'in poker and-like games tend toclutter up the playing surface-land add to its disorder. a i

One object of this'invention is toprovide acornpacttable around which a: plurality of players, new eight in number, may be conveniently and comfortably seated having at each player position separate detachable receptacles for holding ash trays, glasses and chips, thereby reducing the tendency of ashes to be spilled, localizing and restraining the scattering of each players chips, and completely eliminating the problem of bothersome sticky coasters.

Another object is to provide a table having the above advantages and provided on the opposite side thereof with a flat, smooth, unbroken sur- *,face, allowing the table to be utilized for a large variety of purposes.

Another object is to provide a table having a strong, rigid construction which is light in weight and easily handled by one person.

Another object is to provide a table of the above character in which the two playing sides or surfaces are separated by an open framework, and the edges of said playing sides securely bound together and also to the edge members of said framework.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claim at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View, partly brokenaway to show the internal supporting framework;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional elevation on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional elevation on line 4-4 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective a view of the intersection of two frame members as seen in the direction of arrow 9 in Fig. l.

'a wt. 7f I Y1 GAMETABLE Tor HAvi G TWO PLAXING 1 SURFACES .yftoger L. Slatterm Lockport p-'NLY .asjs ignor to H uco Work Shops, Incorporated,.- Lockport,

.,N. Y.,a corporationlofNewYork I, Application November 9, Leta-smelter). 126,32; w

I f reassessment of. closedihyway of illustrationcomprises, preferthe invention herein disably, an octagonal table top comprising two fiat,

smooth, playing surfaces on opposite sides thereof sho'wmgenerally at H! and H. Such playing surfaces are formed by integral boards [2 and 13 which are fastened to opposite sides oranopen wooden framework. Said frameworkcomprises a plurality. of equal length peripheral members I 4,

secured end; to endand togetheri forming the periphery of said. table; 1 The frame also. comprises a plurality of transverse members 15 each.

of which members not only isconnected atlthe joint. The above connections between said frame members may be secured by any suitable means such as. nailing, gluing or the like.

Playing surfaces l2 and I3 are fastened to the framework by glue or other suitable means and bound at the edges thereof with a reinforcing tape H, as shown in Figs. 3 and l. Top 12 and bottom i3 are both preferably made of structural panel board, such as various wallboards, plywood, hardboard or other rigid panel material identically cut to size and shape and covered or finished with a fabric, plastic or other coating to provide a durable playing surface, attractive in color and design, suitable for playing games thereon.

Top member I2 has a series of openings cut into it at each player position. Into these openings shallow receptacles are detachably fitted. I contemplate the use of a round receptacle l8 for holding an ash tray, a smaller round receptacle [9 serving as a beverage well for holding a glass, and a third larger rectangular receptacle 20 suitable for holding poker chips, cards and the like. These openings and corresponding receptacles are positioned near the table edge to conveniently provide, at each player position, one of each type of receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1.

The receptacles are intended to be frictionally held in said table top and are provided at the open periphery thereof with an outwardly and downwardly curved flange 2| which rests on table top surface l2 as shown in Fig. 3. These receptacles may be of metal covered with a stainresistant, heat-resistant finish, or plastic or other moldable material.

A wide variety of games may be played utilizing the above table top, or when desired, the table may be turned over and bottom member l3 provides a table with a flat, smooth, unbroken surface upon which numerous other games may be played, as well as being adaptable to the countless uses to which a flat top table can be put.

It is evident from the above description that the table not only has all the'advantages described above but also that because of its shape it allows the comfortable seating of eight players at one table while requiring less than 75% of the space required to seat eight players at one rectangular table formed, for example, by three adjacently positioned common card tables.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reversible, octagonal game table top formed by a top structural board, a frame comprising peripheral members secured together end -to end around the table and members extendin transversely across said table and connected to said peripheral members, said transverse members intersecting and being formed with notches forconnection to one another, said top structural board being connected to said members, a bottom structural board secured to said members, and. a reinforcing tape connecting said top and bottom structural boards along the edges of said table, said table top being reversible to bring either of said structural boards uppermost and into playing position.

2. A reversible, octagonal game table top having a plurality of player positions comprising a. top structural board having at each player position recesses therein and receptacles" seated in said recesses, a frame comprising peripheral members secured together end to end around the table and members extending transversely across said table and connected to said peripheral members, said transverse members intersecting and being formed with notches for connection to one another, said top structural board being connected to said frame, and a smooth surfaced bottom structural board secured to said frame members, said table top being reversible to bring either of said structural boards uppermost and into playing position.

ROGER L. SLATTERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

